The Coroner’s job is to look into the circumstances surrounding a reported death, and then to determine the cause of death.
The Coroner will:
- Confirm the identity of the deceased.
- Inquire into the date, place, cause and manner of death.
When is a Death Reported to the Coroner?
A death must be reported to the Coroner if:
- The deceased person was not attended by a medical practitioner within six months before the death.
- A person has died while in the care of (or being treated by) places like a hospital, residential centre, or welfare facility.
- A person has died a violent or unnatural death, or has died suddenly and the cause is unknown.
When Can You Make Funeral Arrangements?
Even if a post mortem will be conducted, you can still go ahead and plan a funeral. Wollongong City Funerals will liaise with the Coroner on your behalf, and let you know when the body will be released.
The body cannot be released until the initial post mortem is completed. Sometimes there are unavoidable delays. Reasons may include:
- Further medical tests being required.
- The body needing to be transported to Sydney for a specialised post mortem.
- Problems arising in confirming the identity of the deceased person.
Viewing the Body
Generally, viewing of the body by family or friends can be organised through Wollongong City Funerals after the post mortem. In special circumstances, viewing may be arranged before the post mortem.
For further information, contact:
Coronial Information and Support (CISP) on (02) 8584 7777 or
Counselling Services at the Department of Forensic Medicine (02) 8584 7800
Website: http://www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/support_services/counselling_services.aspx